A20536:506
Ten sermons tending chiefly to the fitting of men for the worthy receiving of…Ten sermons tending chiefely to the fitting of men for the worthy receiuing of…
Ten sermons tending chiefly to the fitting of men for the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper Wherein amongst many other holy instructions: the doctrines of sound repentance and humiliation, and of Gods special favours unto penitent sinners, and worthy communicants are largely and effectually handled. The six first, by I. Dod. The four last, by R. Cleaver. Whereunto is annexed, a plain and learned metaphrase on the epistle to the Colossians, written by a godly and judicious preacher. There is also set before the sermons, a short dialogue of preparation: containing the chief points that concern the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper, taken for the most part, out of the sermons following: and collected into a method for the benefit and ease of those that desire direction in this matter.Ten sermons tending chiefely to the fitting of men for the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper VVherein amongst many other holy instructions: the doctrines of sound repentance and humiliation, and of Gods speciall fauours vnto penitent sinners, and worthy communicants are largely and effectually handled. The six first, by I. Dod. The foure last, by R. Cleauer. Whereunto is annexed, a plaine and learned metaphrase on the epistle to the Collossians, written by a godly and iudicious preacher. There is also set before the sermons, a short dialogue of preparation: containing the chiefe points that concerne the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper, taken for the most part, out of the sermons following: and collected into a method for the benefit and ease of those that desire direction in this matter.
London: printed by William Hall for Roger Jackson, 1610London: printed by William Hall for Roger Iackson, 1610
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2 Another reason, §2why God taketh such small things in good worth, 1is, because he is both in name and nature a father, yea, an heavenly father, and therefore hath compassion of those that fear him, even as an earthly father hath of his child that serveth him. Now he that is a merciful, and wise, and loving father (as those will be ever most merciful to others, that have tasted most of Gods mercy to themselves) when he seeth that his child doth as well as he can, though it be but simply and poorly, yet he will show his liking of it, and commend him for it: Note. and so will God deal with us: though we cannot do things perfectly, yet if we do them obediently, he will show his love & approbation of us and of our works. When a little child doth cheerfully aim & shoot at the mark which his father proposeth unto him, though by reason of his weakness he shoot very wide and short; Yet it is as well accepted of his father, as if he did hit the white: and the like fatherly dealing shall we find in God: that if we be faithful in a little, he will esteem of us, as if we performed a great deal more. Indeed when we have put off the image of the first Adam, & have put on the Image of the second Adam, and have changed the earth ⟨p. 99⟩for heaven, then we shall not only obey truly, 2but perfectly: but here it is in truth (and so it must be esteemed) one degree of perfection to see our own imperfections. And that was in Nehemiah, and in those of his time: O Lord I beseech thee, let thine ear now hearken to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name. He could not say, that they did so fear his name as they should: but this they could say, that they desired to do it better: which desire was a fruit of the grace it self.
2 Another reason, §2why God taketh such small things in good worth, 1is, because hee is both in name and nature a father, yea, an heauenly father, and therefore hath compassion of those that feare him, euen as an earthly father hath of his child that serueth him. Now hee that is a mercifull, and wise, and louing father (as those will bee euer most mercifull to others, that haue tasted most of Gods mercie to themselues) when hee seeth that his child doth as well as hee can, though it bee but simply and poorely, yet hee will shew his liking of it, and commend him for it: Note. and so will God deale with vs: though we cannot do things perfectly, yet if we do them obediētly, he wil shew his loue & approbation of vs and of our works. When a litle child doth cheerefully aime & shoote at the mark which his father proposeth vnto him, though by reason of his weaknes he shoote very wide and short; Yet it is as well accepted of his father, as if he did hit the white: and the like fatherly dealing shal we find in God: that if we befaithfull in a little, he wil esteeme of vs, as if wee performed a great deale more. Indeed when we haue put off the image of the first Adam, & haue put on the Image of the second Adam, and haue changed the earth